omg a whole week went by....but this is the entry for Sunday

today things started to come into focus

I spent the week end priming and sanding the utility box in between classes. It is really physical work and as I was cleaning the box people glanced me as if I was just crazy.

But today things started to come into focus. With a clean smooth surface, I got to work. 

I'm working for the Wilshire Center Business Improvement District. They are really committed to having public art in the neighborhood and once again I am touched and moved with how much people want to have art in their environment. There was a constant stream of supportive complimentary and encouraging people from every walk of life. I have amazing security support. Officer Rudy was sort of miffed that I didn't call him when a schizophrenic homeless person got a little close and another homeless man intervened and then they got in a shouting match. The wild guy started shouting and carrying on and went away and then ran back to me and threw a dollar in my supply case then ran away again and shouted that the dollar was for me and not for the guy who was helping me out. I'll save the dollar.

Priming today

I got it relatively smooth and put on a coat of primer. Tomorrow an underpainting!

stripping paint and sanding....

I took time between classes to run out to the street to prep the utility box. It had many coats of gray paint that would interfere with my paintings.  So I stripped and sanded until it was smooth. 

I know that this is a stretch for daily painting but I'm getting ready to start on the Wilshire Western utility box. I went to Home Depot and did some damage then cleaned out Nova Color. Trying to be there very early to get started before figure class. Will take lots of photos. The box is right at the Metro station and people and traffic will be an issue. 

I got the 4th side finished today and am waiting to hear that it's a go. The box is sort of beat up and in a very busy location where the subway lets out and people get on buses. This will be a real adventure!

Tuesday - the third side is just about done

The palms in this neighborhood are wonderful. They line all the streets so here's a version that is at the corner of Wilshire and Manhattan Place.

Starting on the final right now, maybe I'll post it later tomight, Want to have it all ready tomorrow.

this what I got in today. 2 more sides in the works for tomorrow 

catching up but still daily painting

On Wednesday afternoon my iPhone ( aka my brain) went missing..... while it was a strange rest to not have any calls or things I had to respond to, it did put me out of touch with my blog. So here is the catch up.  I was working on this when I realized pandora had stopped playing, I went to the computer and the cable was there but my phone which had been acting as the airport was gone.......

That's as far as I got.

Thursday morning is my day to drive to Murrieta to teach and I have been painting along with the class. They like it and it keeps me on track. Here's a link to the blog I keep for them.

plateau plein air painters

Then Friday I got to get this one in.....

and next day work in this

and today I finished the above, but the photo was full of glare- will include tomorrow and started on the final version of the Wiltern,

I haven't said too much because I'm so happy and nervous about this project. The box at Wilshire and Western! I have two strong possibilities and an idea for a third. Needs to be in by Wednesday. Stay tuned. 

my iphone went missing

I have two paintings to post from wednesday and thursday but sometime wednesay evening when I was working in the studio on a study for the new utility box, my phone disappeared. Getting it replaced today!

more thoughts on the wiltern

Closing in on a scene but will tighten this one up just a bit so that the Wiltern doesn't look like it's on fire. I got some great sunset photos along Wilshire last night, that might be good for the next side. Will also go up to the Los Altos Apartments for ideas.

Starting on ideas for the box at WIlshire and Western

I have to go to the art store to get the right format of canvas.Today I just had to get started so I painted over an old painting. WIll do more tomorrow!

radishes from Saturday

more radishes from Saturday after all the classes were finished. I was so tired when I started and so refreshed when I finished!

from today....radishes

Daily painting is the greatest!  I hope I'm not neglecting teaching in any way. It's been really slow in the studio with lots of cancellations and normally I would freak out. A note to all of you 'no shows' this week - call me! Just to let me know but that said I am having a ball painting every day.

And I have some good news. I think I am going to get to paint another signal box. On WILSHIRE AND WESTERN!!!!!! More later but it's part of the new Wilshire Center Arts and Architecture Art  Walk. October 25th. Save the date.

From Thursday

There was a little time at the end of the day for this still life with African Violets

Origami cranes today

I got tired of looking at myself and figured my old friends the cranes would be fun.

self portrait with plaid shirt and easel

Me at the french easel. 8" x 10". I tried to avoid the temptation to get too into detail because it's a small format. I like it better than #1. Another tomorrow.

self prortrait monday

I missed yesterday. At the end of the week I was so tired with all the classes. It was a really busy week- end with full introductory classes friday saturday and sunday. So I told myself that since I did two on saturday, I could go home on sunday when everyone left. 

So it's a new week and I'm going to do a bunch of self portraits or portraits of anyone who wants to sit. 

I figure they will get better and easier of I keep at it.

saturday with the model

Two 25 minute poses.

Thursday in Murrieta

Today is a very long teaching day and I was lucky to be able to paint along with the class this morning. The hills seemed so brown  until I got quiet and looked then there were all sorts of purples and  yellows. Day 7!



ps: sold

In between classes

This morning I got up and had a new 'like' on my studio facebook page. The person sent me a little computer generated picture of these boxes just as a funny greeting. How could I pass up such a nice suggestion. So I decided that would be the subject of my daily painting today since I have the same boxes in the studio!

Day 5

The Intro to Acrylic Painting class has to do apples all the time so I thought this would be fun. It was. So great to be painting regularly!

Day 4

 

I started this in before class then had another hour to finish after. Blue...got that out of my system.

Maybe a landscape tomorrow.

Day 3

I just had two private classes today so it wasn't such a stretch to sit down to paint. But still hard to decide what to do. I changed the still life around a little. We were talking about chosing predominate colors. Will try a blue since I'm about through with this yellow.

Day 2! 

It would have been the easier thing to bail today. Saturday is killer for me. I teach figure drawing in the morning until 1pm. Then it's afternoon class and the last students left the studio at 6:30 pm. I was standing all day. But I just made myself start, then it was easy. This is a still life that Sarah and Karen set up. YELLOW. It was fun and I might again do it again tomorrow. And get a better photo.

Daily Painting is ON!

  

I'm back from New York full of resolve to get my daily painting back on track. So here's the first. I'll just start with stuff that is around the studio. Like food! This on is 6" x 6" oil on canvas.

Maybe later on I'll write about why I haven't been painting. Mainly it's because I've been so focused on building up the studio teaching.  I have a group of wonderful students but I know they are starting to wonder why I''m not working. This is my attempt to have a better balance.

    

not exactly daily painting

I finished up my application for the signal box at 20th Street and Orange Avenue. Here are the other three images. 

I'll let you know how it turns out. just got a rejection for another proposal. uggggggh

I'm back

Maybe there's something to 1-11-11. I painted all day today for the first time in months...... I completely underestimated how much teaching everyday takes it out of the painting energy. Glad to have such interesting dedicated students but I have been in the studio in the am and not been able to get started. So leave it to a commission possibility to get me going. They want another signal box in Long Beach and while I'm not guaranteed, there is a chance. 

So here's what I did. The clients want depictions of a park at 20th and Long Beach Blvd. They have a community garden. Here are some sunflowers that were in bloom.

Saturday

We had a really light turnout for figure class this morning and I took the opportunity to paint myself. I am going to have to do something about the attendance in this class but today there was nothing but try to be graceful and use the models time wisely. Sarah and Karen were there and got good paintings. Here's mine. This was an hour pose. 14" x 11'.

I'm threatening to start daily painting again. There was so very much worry about money this summer that I am teaching every day. I'm grateful for the work but l know I need to paint to be the best teacher that I can be. More tomorrow.